When Were “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Black Cat” Written?

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” (1843) and poem “The Black Cat” (1843) were both written during his early years as a writer, which he spent in Richmond, Virginia. In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” a man kills an old man because he is afraid of the old man’s eye; in “The Black Cat,” a black cat is killed by its owner for ruining his garments. Both stories are about crime and violence. Both stories are dark and suspenseful. Poe was known for his dark and macabre stories, which often focused on death or insanity. “The Tell-Tale Heart” is one of Poe’s most famous stories; it remains popular today because it is considered to be a classic example of Gothic fiction. Poe is considered to be one of the most important American writers; his works have had a strong influence on modern horror fiction writers such as Stephen King and Robert Bloch, who both consider Poe to be one of their biggest influences in writing horror fiction.